Meet Stephen

Do not put it off until the last minute. Studying a little bit after every class period will pay huge dividends, especially when exams come. Plus, this approach really reduces stress.

Be friendly and be yourself. Making friends at UT is really easy because of the diversity that we have on campus. There is definitely an activity or club to fit your interests and passions.

Being in college is such an exciting time with so many opportunities and avenues to take. My biggest challenge has been not to try to do too many things while in college. It is easy to get lost in everything that is going on at UT that certain priorities can be put on the backburner. In college, it is imperative to set priorities and to set a schedule that you can keep. In dealing with this challenge, however, I know that I have learned more about myself and my limitations. There are only so many hours in the day and only so many days that you will have at UT – My advice is to make the most of each hour in each day!

My approach is to set a schedule and stick to it. In high school, I was able to remember everything without ever having to write it down. Unfortunately, that has not been the case in college. I make a to-do list every night before I go to bed, so I will remember everything for the next day. Sometimes, however, there are not enough hours in the day, and you will have to prioritize. When this is the case, planning in advance helps because it allows you to prepare for a difficult week. For example, if you know you have three tests in one week, you might want to tell your friends and family that you will be busy studying that week. As long as you give them notice, no one’s feelings will get hurt.

I have lived on campus for the majority of the time at college. The dorms on campus are a great environment to meet new people. They also offer a great place to study or just hang out after a long day. Dorm life is unique to college, and something that I think everyone should experience. Living in the dorms also allows you to get more involved on campus because you are essentially in the middle of the action. I will be moving off campus next year because I want to experience living on my own, but my time in the dorms at UT has been wonderful, and I would highly recommend living on campus for at least your freshman year.

• Class: Congressional Elections
• Study location: Life Sciences Library in the Tower Building; it has wooden tables, great lighting and a very academic environment.
• Place to eat on or near campus: Trudy’s – Definitely the best place for Tex-Mex in Austin. They have great enchiladas, and you really have to try the stuffed avocado!
• Pastime / Recreational activity: Getting coffee and sitting on the steps of the Tower at night. From the Tower steps, you have a perfect view of the Texas Capitol. It is really a great place to hang out with friends or collect your thoughts after a long day.

I was born in Marshall, Texas, a small town in Northeast Texas. Before I came to UT, Marshall was the only place I had ever lived. My Mom’s family is originally from the Marshall area, so it was nice to grow up around a lot of my family.

While I was destined to be a Longhorn, my family did not have much connection with the university other than the fact that my sister (who is two years older than me) came to UT as well. My parents both attended Baylor University – so as my Dad says – “Two Bears had two Longhorns.”

Since I was accepted into the Plan II Honors Program and the Business Honors Program, two of my majors were already chosen. I transferred in a fair amount of dual-credit and AP credit, so I had some flexibility with major choices. Ultimately, I decided to add Finance to my BBA degree and Government to my BA degree. I have always been interested in the stock market and statistical data, so I have found Finance particularly interesting. Additionally, government has always been a passion of mine. My father was a County Judge for 13 years, and I have always believed in the power that government has to help everyday people. Interning in the Texas Legislature has confirmed that belief.

One piece of advice that I would give to all students is to get to know your professors and TA’s. It turns out that they are all really nice and caring people who want to see their students succeed at that particular subject. Whether it is for extra tutoring or if you are just interested in that subject, professors are a great wealth of knowledge and expertise that all students should utilize. Our professors are some of the leaders in countless areas, and there are some really interesting lessons that you can learn from them outside of the classroom.

You will make some of your lifelong friends in college – I know because I have. Sometimes, these friends will be in your major and have many similar interests. Other times, they will just be in your college, but not necessarily. For those friends that are in your major/college, I have found that it is really interesting to talk and share experiences. Many of the students at UT have fascinating stories that you can learn from. Take time to talk to people in your classes, on the bus, or in the dining hall. Not only will you have an interesting conversation, but I bet that the person will be able to tell you a story that will fascinate you.

Since my freshman years, I have been a member of the Senate of College Councils. Not only has this group given me a great chance to grow and mature as a student leader, but it has also given me a really great working knowledge of the university. With a school the size of UT, there are so many different entities, departments, colleges, etc. that make the whole school a bit intimidating. Being able to better understand the workings and structure of the university has really helped me not only in Senate but also in putting on projects and events for other student organizations. If I have any questions about logistics regarding an event, I have learned who to talk to in order to have that question answered.

Senate, as a student governance organization that focuses on academic issues, has also made me aware of the important issues facing our campus. When the issue of curricular reform was first being discussed, I knew about it because of Senate and had a forum in which to share my views and opinions with other student leaders. Being “plugged in” to the university is very important and something that I would recommend to every student. UT’s administration is constantly looking for student leadership and opinion, and I believe that every Longhorn should step up and do their part.